Taxing Defectors' Retirement Income Impractical

Regarding Martin Epstein's March 24 letter, "Tax Defectors' Retirement Here," here are a few facts he needs to know.

Connecticut's income tax, enacted in 1992 to cover a budget shortfall, has now been in effect for 24 years. It is possible that many of these "defectors" earned their income before the income tax went into effect or before it increased to the current 5.5 percent.

It also must be noted that Connecticut taxes residents' deferred-tax retirement accounts and pensions earned in other states at the 5.5 percent rate. Connecticut is one of only a few states to tax pensions at the full income tax rate.

Connecticut has taxed 100 percent of my New York pension since my husband and I moved here from New York in 2000. In New York, this pension was exempt from income taxes. What if New York decided to tax the retirement accounts of former residents? Would Connecticut let go of the taxes taken from my retirement income? Would we be subjected to double taxes from both states even though the income was earned only in one?

Perhaps we should demand Connecticut fix the taxing and fee structure prompting businesses and people to flee the state, as this is only decreasing the tax base and taking jobs out of the state.